(CNS): The former deputy governor and retired chief civil servant, Donovan Ebanks, has revealed his intention to sign the petition calling for a people’s referendum on the introduction of one man, one vote. Ebanks plans to put his name to the list publicly outside the town hall in George Town on Tuesday morning. He explained that this was in an effort to encourage all civil servants who support the national ballot on choosing how the electorate will vote for their political representatives to also sign the petition and take advantage of the new policy which allows public sector workers to play a more open part in the country’s democratic process.

“I want to encourage public servants in particular to seriously consider the issue which the petition seeks to address,” Ebanks said. “If they are supportive of it and feel they wish to participate in the petition, I would like to urge them to exercise their new privilege which the policy recently issued by the deputy governor affords them. I expect that after so many years of uncertainty, many will feel some reluctance to make use of it for the first time.”

Ebanks will also be joined by his former public service colleague, Kirkland Nixon, who was head of the country’s fire service, and he hopes that such a public signing will send a message to government employees that they can participate.

The petition is now very close to the necessary 3,800 names needed to trigger a people-initiated referendum but the greater goal for those spearheading the campaign is to persuade the government to call the referendum this year before the May general election in 2013. This would then enable that election to be conducted under one man, one vote, single member constituencies.

MLA Ezzard Miller, who launched the campaign with MLA Arden McLean a few weeks ago, said that everyone needed to sign the petition in order to make the change to the more democratic process for the next election when the country will be voting in an extra three MLAs.

At present the government has proposed adding one seat to Bodden Town and two in the capital, which would create the unprecedented and inequitable position of George Town voters having a significantly greater influence on the make-up of government than any other constituency.

The position will exacerbate an already unjust electoral system that allows the district in that people live to dictate how much say they have in the democratic process, which the two MLAs representing single member constituencies say is unjust and unacceptable.

The government’s back bench MLA Cline Glidden offered a glimmer of hope to the campaign at the Generation Now debate last week. He suggested that if the campaign were to get close to 50% of the register voters signing the petition, government would have to look at holding the referendum before the next election or rethinking its decision on how the next election will be held without one.

The petition itself asks for a national ballot on the decision in November of this year but the premier has rejected that possibility. McKeeva Bush has offered to hold a referendum on the issue at the same time as the next election to save money. This means Cayman voters will have to wait until 2018 before they are able to vote on a level playing field, despite the significant support for the principle in every poll that has been conducted.

Anyone wishing to witness the former governor sign the petition can join him at 11am Tuesday outside the Town hall by the Legislative Assembly in downtown George Town.

The former chief civil servant must admit that part of the problem of this country is the size of government and that cost of maintaining the people is breaking the country. To show some real leadership why not suggest ways to decrease the size of the civil service to help save us tax payers some money.

Don't you read the news? By designing the new policy (which is consistent with the Bill of Rights) he has paved the way for rank and file civil servants to sign the petition. He is now going one step further by publicly encouraging civil servants to sign, something he obviously could not do in his capacity as Deputy Governor.

Oh well, here is the first step towards seeking political office by Mr. Ebanks, however, it’s a good move to afford civil servants a voice regardless of the motive, the CS must be included without fear of retribution.

I don't know what he has or has not done to advance Caymanians as a civil servant but I don't see what this has to do with with supporting one man one vote and encouraging civil servants to sign the petition.

The OMOV petition is a Class 2 petition. According to the Dep. Gov Manderson, for a Class 2 petition, if you are in a higher up position, the only thing you may need to do is give your Minister 48 hours notice of your intention to "sign a Class 2 petition".

There is no need to spell out exactly which petition or give details on your reasons for your intentions.

Something simple like:

"I hereby give notice of my intention to sign a Class 2 petition."

Then wait for 48 hours to pass BEFORE you sign the petition, that way you wont get in hot water with the Dep Gov office.